In the trenches, on the water and in the sky, those men and women who served Australia in the Great War often thought about their patch of dirt, their longing for home the subject of many letters to loved ones.
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That soil will symbolise their sacrifice in a memorial art installation in Sydney’s Hyde Park, to mark the centenary of Armistice Day in 2018. It will include samples taken from key sites around Port Stephens.
“I like to think people from Port Stephens who visit this art work when its unveiled will really appreciate the efforts of our people in the war effort,” Nelson Bay RSL sub branch honorary secretary Russell Durrant said.
“The soil represents so much; the area and the people.”
From Port Stephens there will be soil collected at Anna Bay, Gan Gan Lookout, Apex Park Memorial, Glen Oak, Hinton, Karuah, Nelsons Plains, Raymond Terrace, Seaham, Swan Bay, Wallalong, Williamtown and Woodville.
While some sites like the Apex Park memorial at Nelson Bay are obvious, Mr Durrant said others like Gan Gan Lookout were more symbolic of the region.
“We’re very pleased to be involved,” he said.
“Armistice Day is now of course Remembrance Day and its important to recognise 100 years since the end of World War II.”
Anna Bay Public School has been invited to take part in the collection. Each sample must be placed in a zip-lock style plastic bag, with documented evidence of the collection.
Artist Fiona Hall was selected to complete the tribute. When finished memorial visitors will be able to view information on each listed location via digital devices. Information will include the details and date the local soil was collected, the names of every enlistee who gave that location as their home address, and pinpointed maps showing the local area and its surrounding memorials and schools.
Meanwhile preparations are well underway for Remembrance Day services on November 11 this year in Port Stephens.
Poppies will not be on sale this year due to an ongoing investigations into RSL fundraising practices on a state level. However they will be distributed for free at Salamander Bay Shopping Centre on November 3 and 10 from 9.30am on each day.
The Nelson Bay Remembrance Service will begin 10.45am on the Saturday with students from St Phillip’s Christian College to address attendees and deliver The Ode.
The soil collection at Apex Park will conclude the service. Refreshments and lunch will be on offer afterward at Nelson Bay Wests Diggers.
